San Ramon man killed in Vasco Road crash identified

BRENTWOOD -- A 67-year-old San Ramon man who was killed in a three-car crash Monday afternoon on Vasco Road was identified Tuesday morning.

Antun Niksic was killed when he 1998 Mercedes was struck head-on by a southbound 1999 Subaru Outback that had crossed into the northbound lane around 1:48 p.m. Monday.

The Subaru, driven by a 21-year-old Oakley man, had drifted into opposing traffic as the road curved to the right, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The Subaru struck the guardrail on the northbound side of the road and collided head-on with Niksic's car, the CHP said. A 1983 Pontiac Trans Am driving behind the Mercedes was also struck by the Subaru, then sideswiped the Mercedes.

The Subaru caught on fire and was engulfed in flames before firefighters could extinguish the blaze. The driver was taken to John Muir Medical Center with major head injuries; his condition was not known Tuesday.

A 67-year-old woman in the Mercedes' passenger seat was seriously injured. She was airlifted to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek, where a nursing supervisor said she was in serious but stable condition Tuesday morning.

The 20-year-old Watsonville woman driving the Trans Am was not injured.

The crash forced the closure of Vasco Road between Camino Diablo and Dalton Avenue for about three hours.

Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be factors in the crash, according to the CHP. The investigation is continuing.